Young CU Professionals Crashing in NY

The Credit Union Association of New York's Young Professionals Commission recently held its first Crash meet-up in Albany at Professor Java's Coffee Sanctuary.

Crash (www.crash.coop) is the brainchild of Brent Dixon, the young adult advisor at the Filene Research Institute. Crash started as a subversive conference for credit union professionals under 30 around proper conferences like CUNA's GAC and The 1 Conference. Dixon realized that for Crash to work as a place where young professionals could get together to learn, network and converse with little financial commitment, there had to be movement on local levels and that sparked the idea for meet-ups.

The meet-up kicked off with some networking and socializing. From there conversations flowed from industry involvement opportunities and how Crash came about, to how looking outside credit union-land can help further the industry. Participants also discussed how to find their niche including potential career opportunities down the road.

Plans are underway to host more Crash meet-ups across the state, including a second one for Albany. The gatherings are offered free of charge to participants with support from Association chapters across the state.